The Red Gate's guards sheltered themselves from the rain on small alcoves on both sides of the large iron doors. The main access to the Red Keep was open on daytime, allowing the usually constant movement of people entering and leaving Westero's center of power and decisions. However presently, under the pouring rain and just after lunch time, the place looked empty.
Crossing the gate, Mikkel nodded to one guard, that nodded back on a lazy way, and pulled the ample hood of his black coat over his head. He stood there, under the arch, waiting.
Seconds later Reynir arrived, his crimson coat flapping on the wind. He reached Mikkel and smiled. "So, are we going anyway, even with all this rain?"
"I have to go anyway, Reynir. We are leaving tomorrow, so today is my last chance to find the shop I've been told about, which may hold interesting things. Also I want to make sure all our provisions have been loaded into our ship."
Reynir's eyebrows raised. "You had almost three weeks, Mikkel."
"Some very busy weeks, I assure you. Sigrun had a good part of her time taken with teaching our prince, and since he decided to travel on our ship we had to make some adjustments, as you know."
"I can imagine... Thankfully his dragon is still small, unlike her mother, or so I've heard."
"Please don't remind me that day. I'm not easy to impress, but having Balerion almost eating Sigrun still makes me shudder." Mikkel made a gesture towards the street. "Shall we move? We can talk while we walk."
King's Landing was shaped almost as a square, with corners pointing North, South, East and West. The city's main street crossed from the Gods' Gate, on the West corner, to the Red Keep, set atop the hill on the Eastern corner, where the Blackwater river meets the sea. The street ran straight until it winded up the hill towards the Red Keep.
Mikkel and Reynir walked down, trying not to slip on the wet stones, or stepping on piles of dung dropped by horses.
"Ah! King's Landing! Westeros' greatest, and filthiest, city!" Mikkel said, while pushing Reynir sideways to avoid stepping on a large mound.
"Oh! Thanks! And what about Sigrun? Why didn't she come?"
"She wanted to rest this afternoon to be ready for tomorrow."
"Hum, doesn't sound much like Sigrun... She never gets tired! Perhaps all those water dancing lessons are wearing her."
"I also found that very unlike her." Mikkel replied. "But I guess she's been taking her teaching very seriously since that... incident, when Emil saved her life. She grew very fond of the young prince after that, as you surely noticed."
"I did." Reynir answered, moving closer to Mikkel. "As much as you surely noticed we're being followed."
A smile lightened Mikkel's face under the hood. "Of course. The kid. I suppose it's one of Ukko-Pekka's notorious "little birds"... I've been followed every day since our arrival. The Master of Whispers must be a very curious man. But then, he's doing his job."
They walked in silence for a while, and Reynir observed the city. It was his first time in King's Landing. He had been in several cities besides Braavos, including Myr, Pentos and Volantis, but none was as large as Westeros' capital, with so many buildings seemingly climbing on each other. There were wealthy palaces along the ample main street, but between them, or sometimes from archways under them, numberless alleys gave access to more and more houses, stores, bars, brothels, workshops and so on, all mixed up without any visible order.
Soon they came to the base of the hill, where the main street continues on a straight line and, to their left, the curved street called The Hook begins, providing the best access to the harbour. As they walked that way Reynir noticed the boy being replaced by a younger girl, but didn't bother mentioning it to Mikkel. "This place is a true maze, you know? I mean, beyond theses few large streets. I got lost a few times myself."
"Is that what you've been doing? Getting lost, eventually robbed, or worse?"
"No. I only got lost twice, and just once two lads tried to rob me. People seem to respect the Red God's attire."
"And what happened?" Mikkel asked, giving some space between them to let a horse and his rider pass.
"They backed away when I put down the hood and they realized I'm a man."
"Lucky guys."
"I guess so. Anyway, I wasn't wandering, but looking for a temple of R'hllor. A servant on the castle told me there's one here on the Hook, hidden on one of those alleys."
Mikkel noticed that Reynir was looking around while they walked, searching. "This is all very different from your home, isn't it?"
"You mean Lys? So different!" He looked up. "This kind of rain is similar, though. Sometimes I miss it, being in the fields with the sheep, feeling the rain, free from worries... But that's not the path I, or perhaps R'hllor, chose."
Mikkel nodded. "And the temple, did you find it?"
"No, not yet. I'm hoping to find it today, since I don't suppose we will have time to look for one in Oldtown... If it exists."
After some time the Hook led them to a larger street, the aptly called Muddy road, that proved an even bigger challenge to walk without stepping into something unpleasant. Before long they arrived at Fishmonger's square, the largest open area on King's Landing, framed by many impressive buildings that house guilds, navigation companies, inns and public offices.
Just ahead they saw the city's outer wall, which at that point would be some forty feet high. There, between two towers, stood the great arch of the River Gate, flanked by a multitude of stalls and a dozen guards from the City Watch. They crossed the gate to the harbour, turning left towards the Navy's wharf.
"Oh, I also spent some time with Grand Maester Taru." Raynir said. "She's an... interesting person. Knows so many things. She noticed my Lyseni accent and wanted to ask things about Lys and, of course, the Lord of The Light."
"Hum, I see. And you asked her about the Kingdom."
"Sure. But it's easy to see that her interest in Lys was a lie. An excuse to ask me about R'hllor priests and temples. How many and where."
Mikkel's eyebrows raised. "Curious... And what else did you..."
"GOOD TO SEE YOU, LORD MIKKEL! SINCE THAT DAY ON THE THRONE I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU!"
Reynir and Mikkel turned to find Admiral Olsen Greyjoy, Master of Ships, breaking through a host of commanders, officials and representatives of many guilds.
Bowing slightly, Mikkel and Reynir removed their hoods. Mikkel cleared his throat and spoke a bit higher than his usual tone. "Admiral Olsen! A pleasure to see you! We came to check if everything is ready for our departure tomorrow. I suppose you're doing the same. How unfortunate that we didn't cross each other's path along these days."
"UNFORTUNATE? I SAY AMAZING! I COME HERE EVERY DAY SINCE THE KING DECIDED TO GIVE FOUR OF MY BEST SHIPS TO THIS CRAZY ADVENTURE OF YOURS!"
"I understand that you disagree with our enterprise."
"NOT AN ENTERPRISE, MADNESS! NO ONE RETURNED TO THE SUNSET SEA! NOT EVEN DAMN BRANDON THE SHIP BUILDER!"
"We can review our docum..."
"I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT! THE KING DECIDED, EVEN SENDS A PRINCE WITH YOU. ALL I CAN HOPE IS THAT YOU DECIDE TO COME BACK BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. NOW, LORD MIKKEL, TELL ME. HAVEN'T WE MET BEFORE?"
The rain was getting heavier, and Mikkel pulled the hood over his head. "I'm sorry, Admiral, but I don't recall having the pleasure to..."
"OH, BUT I THINK I DO! ON WHITE HARBOUR, FOUR YEARS AGO. WEREN'T YOU SELLING SOME "MAGICAL" ELIXIR THAT CURED ALMOST EVERYTHING, FROM CRAMPS TO SNORING?"
"I'm afraid my good Admiral is confusing me with someone else."
"I HAVE A GOOD MEMORY FOR FACES, AND I'M QUITE SURE IT WAS YOU. EVEN THOSE WHISKERS WERE THE SAME."
"Admiral, I've never been at White Harbour! I can't possibly be that person." Mikkel came closer to the man. "However I do have a twin brother, and he's a merchant. Perhaps it was him. We haven't met in many years."
"WELL, I HAVE TWO MEN THAT WERE WITH ME. THEY BOUGHT THAT ELIXIR... AND JUST GOT LOOSE BOWELS FOR DAYS. WOULD YOU COME WITH ME TO MEET THEM? SO WE CAN SETTLE THIS?"
"Loose bowels? I've... heard about a such elixir before, and if I'm not mistaken that would happen if the person drank during the treatment..." Reynir said, attracting Olsen's attention.
"PRIEST, DID YOU EVER MET A SAILOR THAT DOESN'T DRINK? AND HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?"
"I don't... but... It's just... a story I've heard."
Mikkel stepped forward. "Admiral, I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding."
"YES, MUST BE! WHY DON'T YOU BOTH COME WITH ME SO..."
At that moment someone shouted. "FIRE! HELP!" and everybody turned to see the sails of the closest ship on fire, a fire that spread fast to the ship's rigging.
"DAMN!" Olsen put both hands on his head and started to ran towards the ship, shouting orders, being followed by everybody else, except Reynir and Mikkel, that looked at the fire, startled.
"Let's move, fast!" Reynir said, tapping Mikkel's shoulder, and they walked away from the wharf as fast as they could.
